Innovation for industries with tomorrow's energy needs

From emission-free drives to grid stability: we support industries with sustainable storage and system solutions on their way to a climate-neutral future.

Whether in mobility, industrial production, or energy supply, the requirements for modern storage technologies vary considerably from industry to industry. Thanks to our interdisciplinary approach and broad technological expertise, we support companies in developing and implementing tailor-made solutions for their respective applications.

Our developments are used in the automotive industry, aerospace, mechanical and plant engineering, the chemical industry, and the energy and utilities sector, among others. We combine research and industrial partnerships to advance technologies from prototype to scale-up in a practical and efficient manner.

The automotive industry is at the heart of the transformation to electric mobility. Fraunhofer ZESS supports vehicle manufacturers and suppliers with powerful, safe, and sustainable next-generation battery and hydrogen technologies – from cell chemistry and production technology to integration into vehicle systems. Together, we are shaping the future of emission-free driving.

Aerospace places the highest demands on weight, efficiency, and safety. At Fraunhofer ZESS, we develop energy storage systems that meet these challenges with innovative solid-state batteries and hydrogen solutions. Our focus is on durable, scalable, and application-specific optimized technologies.

Companies in the mechanical and plant engineering sector are important partners for Fraunhofer ZESS in the development of machines and plants for the manufacture of innovative components for battery and hydrogen technologies.

In general, intelligent energy storage systems are becoming increasingly important in mechanical and plant engineering – whether for increasing efficiency, stabilizing the grid, or reducing CO₂ emissions. Fraunhofer ZESS offers customized solutions for stationary storage systems and modular systems that can be integrated into industrial processes. In this way, we are contributing to the decarbonization of production.

Companies in the chemical industry are important material suppliers and partners for Fraunhofer ZESS, with whom we develop innovative materials for next-generation batteries.

In addition, stable and secure energy storage plays a central role for many companies in the energy-intensive chemical industry – for example, for process reliability or the use of renewable energy. For these users, we develop storage systems that are tailored to the high demands of chemical processes and support companies in their transition to climate-neutral energy supply.

The energy transition requires new storage solutions for volatile feed-in and secure supply. Fraunhofer ZESS develops technologies for grid-stabilizing large-scale storage systems, decentralized applications, and the use of hydrogen as an energy storage medium. In doing so, we are laying the technological foundations for a resilient and sustainable energy infrastructure.